MHM: Why Grace Beats Body Shaming

Grace. . . I struggle to give others grace in the body shaming battle, in the world of dieting, and new diets, and calories, and …. ______. I struggle to realize grace everyday.

That is why, even in recovery, I’ve battled with shaming others over diets that I don’t approve of or exercise regimens that I think are ‘too much’ or ____ (fill in the blank.) I don’t shower nearly enough grace as I should.

When you think about grace, it truly is is amazing; it’s a charming sound in a believer’s ear.

Isn’t it awesome when, instead of watching people body shame or bully on the internet, you see grace and mercy?

I’m amazed to see grace among the recovery and blogging community every day.

What is the essence of grace? Ephesians 2:8-9, ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.’

Grace is amazing because it’s favor that is undeserved. It’s not something that is merited but something that is freely given. That’s the beauty and richness of the gospel.

Why do I struggle to give grace over body shaming?

I really don’t like any over fixation on bodies. It brings flashbacks from my years of intense struggle over idolizing my own body. When I see it happening, I tend to judge others for body shaming, diet shaming, or exercise shaming.

My natural tendency is to want to judge others for the way they eat or dress or look. (Should I really just look at them and say that they are too skinny or they don’t eat enough or they exercise too much without really knowing and caring for them?)

Jesus Christ didn’t take people at their face value.

Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior told those who were condemning Him for eating with publicans and sinners that He didn’t come that first time to judge but to SAVE sinners. He came to show the abundant grace of God on the lost.

Why is it so hard for me to remember that instead of casting quick judgments on others?

What if, instead of judging others, I thought about grace, the grace that God has shown to me?

Have you ever read the parable of the unforgiving servant?

I’m going to pick it up in Matthew 18:28-35 (right after the lord had forgiven this man his WHOLE debt.)

‘But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence. And he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what thou owest.’ And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’

And he would not, but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after he had called him, said unto him, ‘O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me.

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?’ And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother’s trespasses.”

The first thing that comes into your head when you see someone body shaming someone else on the internet or anywhere else is probably like me?

2) ‘This person is a human with an eternal soul, made in the image of God. They were made for His glory, fearfully and wonderfully designed. What if I thought of them as a hurting soul, in need of hope and love and forgiveness and grace?’

Genesis 1:26-27, ‘Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.’

3) ‘Instead of laying out judgment upon judgment, I could ask the Lord that He would fill me with mercy.

I could think of the undeserved favor He showed to me in His Son and pray that my eyes would be opened to look past their outward hurts and shaming others to the eternal human soul that God has given them.’

Ephesians 2:4-5, ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved),’

Now I have a grace challenge that I would love for you to hold me accountable to this week and in the weeks to come.

What are some of the ways that we can show grace to others instead of judging their food choices, their exercise choices, and them ‘body shaming’ other people? How can I shower more grace on others?

I have a few simple challenges for myself this week. By God’s grace alone, my heart’s desire is to to NOT judge people and to impart more GRACE.

#1) I don’t want to think of people as projects but human souls made in the image of God. I’m so tempted to be superficial and go for what I see, but what about their souls, their joys, sorrows, their hearts?

Instead of judging the protein bars they do or don’t eat, maybe I can talk to them and share with them the beauty of grace, the glory of God and the joy of the Lord.

#2) Instead of looking at the one muffin that they are eating and thinking, ‘Maybe they have an eating disorder because they’re not eating very much…’

Maybe I could talk to them, learn about their fears, their joys, their struggles, and the hunger in their soul. If the soul and the heart are healed, the mind and the body will heal too.

People in the church should be some of the most gracious people you meet. But… why am I not as gracious as I should be?

I forget that the church is a hospital. It’s a hospital for thirsty souls, souls that are seeking after God, that want to be reconciled to God. It’s a hospital for souls that are so broken and so in need of grace, but they know that they don’t deserve grace.

Jesus says this in Mark 2:17, ‘And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I’m ashamed to admit that I am too proud about myself. I have too high of an estimation of myself, and I fail to give others grace when I don’t realize God’s amazing grace.

The church is all about the grace of God. It’s where sinners come to worship the Savior who has saved them from bondage.

If you’ve ever felt judged by me, I realize that it’s because I have not realized grace. When you see me being ungracious, it does grieve me, because that’s not the grace of my Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m so thankful that the truth of the Christian message isn’t in my failures. It’s in Christ Jesus. God works despite me when I fail, and He is working something beautiful in me. And.. most of all I’m humbled that there are so many of you that have willingly shared this journey.

Hebrews 12: 1-4, ‘Therefore, seeing we also are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him that endured such contradiction from sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.In striving against sin, ye have not yet resisted unto bloodshed.’

First of all, I just want you all to know that it’s okay to just eat. You probably won’t die if you don’t track macros, and I’m learning that I’m okay if I eat two desserts in a day. Life isn’t all about eating. Eating is another way to fuel your body for the awesome journey and challenge that life is every day.

(Of course, I’m no physician so take this all with a BIG grain of salt.)

What has been part of the eats lately that I wanted to share with you?

Disclaimer:I received the Redd Bars in this post in an exchange for a blog review. All opinions of course are my own!

The Last of My Kerfluffle + Icecream –Even though I received the first jar in exchange for making a recipe, I think this will be a semi-regular purchase on the peanut butter list.

A New Bar – Redd Bars are GOOD! This ‘Peanut Butter flavor’ was my favorite so far.

Taste of these Bars: 7.5/10 – I liked them a lot. These are pretty soft and easy to chew (A big plus for me).

They are just about the right size for a good pre-workout snack or post-workout snack or just a small snack in the middle of the day. The flavors are pretty normal. However the chocolate flavor gets an A+ for being PACKED with chocolate.

These aren’t super filling, but they will tide you over if you are really hungry and need something to ‘hold you over.’

Cost: 5/10 Since I received these for a review, I went to go checkout the price and they are around 30+ dollars for 12 bars. They probably wouldn’t be something I would buy all the time, but since the taste is SO good. I think I would make them a semi-regular purchase.

Oreo Birthday Cake: My 19 year old sister created this amazing cake for my other sister’s 16th birthday.

My family is an awesome blessing. I’m thankful that God has preserved our relationships. It’s all of grace.

Let’s also talk about the recovery family. I don’t deserve them, and yet I have a HUGE outpouring of links about things like:

Body Image

Grace

Friendship

to share with you!

I thought this Mental Health Monday with Julia would be on the of the best ways to show all these wonderful links with you. There are so many writers here who can communicate in such a gifted way; it humbles me and makes me grateful that there are so many out there spreading truth and love (even when the devil tries to spread his lies.)

Fitness/Body Image/Balance

Sports and Faith – The way Alison draws this parallel. <3 This is such a gracious girl.

I love what you said about church being a hospital. I haven’t thought of it like that. Sometimes I expect my fellow christians to have it all together and to be there for me all the time. But we aren’t perfect and we are all on this healing, restoring journey together. <3

“Church is a hospital”… yes yes yes! That is an amazing sentence. Thank you so much for sharing my link, too! 🙂 I also really loved Cayenne’s post to her parents.

I think that it is especially hard not to judge others for their actions when it comes to food and exercise when we’ve had negative relationships with those things in the past, but we need to give people the benefit of the doubt and pray that they are okay. <3

It is SO hard, but I’m really grateful for each one of my blogger friends who are always encouraging, building up each other, and sharing grace for each other instead of judgment. <3 I always have to be reminded that 'Love hopes all things.'

Thank you for including my post sister!! <3 Grace DOES beat body shaming. Body shaming is never good by any means. Because when we judge ourselves and others by something as small as looks, we forget to see that there is a whole individual behind that!! XOXO

The Life of the Writer

I live in the beautiful state of Colorado where 14ers are to give you all the sore legs you need, amazing skiing, plenty of other runners, glorious sunsets, majestic elk herds, and peaceful country roads with clear air.

Go Back in Time!

Go Back in Time!

I am a very ordinary girl. I’m 21, but if you met me, you wouldn’t believe me. I am passionate about girls finding true beauty in Christ. I love peanut butter, icecream, and salad. My hobbies are cooking, baking, sharing laughs and tears with others, and sharing the fullness of joy that Christ has put in me. I love reading other blogs, and I hope that this will be a place where you can find encouragement, recipes, smiles, and joy. Click here to read more about me...